It’s difficult to pinpoint the time when the building blocks of the Goodison fortress started being gradually cemented back into place, particularly as the injuries suffered since should have reduced it to rubble.

But there was Phil Neville’s shuddering challenge on Cristiano Ronaldo that inspired the fightback against Manchester United in October.

There was David Moyes finally drawing a line under the doubts over his future by signing his new contract.

And there was the inevitable return to form of a defence which has stuck to its new year resolution to cut out the bad habits and Phil Jagielka has gone from a token friendly appearance in Trinidad to nailed-on certainty for Fabio Capello’s squad list.

Another magnificent transformation.

And since Christmas, the upsurge in home form that has been so vital to the securing of European football in the past couple of years, is looking certain to be as definitive again.

Since the last home loss to Aston Villa in early December, the home victories that the likes of Blackburn and Portsmouth should have been subjected to in ordinary circumstances are back on the agenda.

After the goalless draw with Chelsea, Sunderland and Bolton have both been seen off 3-0, Hull just as easily despite conceding one less.

They were seconds away from beating Arsenal when Robin van Persie hit the only home goal conceded in two months.

And then the recovery came to fruition in the most satisfying way with that FA Cup knockout of Liverpool. Again built on a solid defensive platform and another game in which an unlikely hero emerged from Moyes’s armoury.

Dan Gosling’s performance on Saturday shows how easy it is to settle in at Everton these days, regardless of experience and pedigree. Little wonder Jo was inspired to score twice and win the penalty that set Everton on their way to making it four wins in five home games.

There is one irritating Goodison ritual that remains unchanged however – the instruction to supporters to “please show your appreciation for” a substituted player.

Firstly, they don’t need to be told to clap a player off.

Secondly, they’ve paid their money, they can show what they want. And if they don’t appreciate a below-par performance that’s up to them.

But thankfully, that PA announcement is more redundant than ever. Because every supporter – without any kind of prompting – fully appreciates what every player is giving to the Everton cause at the moment.